FULL VIDEO AT THE END OF THE POST
The Parties and the Dispute
The case involved a landlord, Ramalda, and her former tenants, Bill and Valderia.
Ramalda claimed the tenants were squatting in her property.
Bill and Valderia, the tenants, asserted they were falsely arrested.
The core of the dispute revolved around an oral lease, a written agreement for a room, unpaid rent, and an order of protection.
Initial Agreement and Move-In
Bill and Valderia moved into Ramalda's property in January 2015.
They had an oral lease for the property.
There was also a written agreement for a room.
The written agreement stated Ramalda received $600 to rent a room.
It specified a move-in date between January 1st and 5th, 2015.
The agreement also mentioned a two-week notice for a full refund if plans changed.
Bill, one of the tenants, signed this document.
The rent was $600 per month.
Landlord Requests Tenants to Leave
In September 2015, Ramalda notified the tenants that she wanted them to move out.
She sent them a paper on September 15th, 2015.
This document was a 30-day notice to leave.
It requested the tenants to vacate the property by October 15th.
The notice cited new people moving in as the reason.
Rent Payments After Notice
Between January 2015 and September 2015, the tenants consistently paid their $600 monthly rent.
After receiving the notice to vacate, the tenants paid October's rent.
This payment was made on October 15th.
They also paid November's rent.
This payment was made on November 20th.
Unpaid Rent and Conflicting Claims
The tenants did not pay December's rent.
They also did not pay January's rent.
Bill claimed Ramalda told them she did not want any money from them at all.
He stated she only wanted them to move out.
Judge Judy questioned this claim.
She pointed out that Ramalda had wanted them out by October 15th.
The tenants presented a text message.
They claimed this message showed Ramalda stating she did not want a penny for utilities or rent.
They said she just wanted them out.
Tenants' Justification for Non-Payment
The tenants explained they couldn't find Ramalda to pay rent in December.
They also stated Ramalda gave them letters saying she didn't want the rent.
They claimed she wanted them to move out to avoid an issue.
They mentioned talking to housing services.
Housing services allegedly informed them of their rights.
The tenants stated they were advised to wait for the landlord to evict them.
Valderia claimed they paid December's rent, but Ramalda didn't pick it up.
She said Ramalda refused to collect it.
Valderia believed Ramalda purposefully did this.
The Order of Protection
On January 22nd, 2016, the tenants filed for an order of protection against Ramalda.
This was after they had not paid rent for December and January.
The filing alleged verbal harassment by Ramalda.
It also claimed Ramalda tried opening their front door.
The tenants stated Ramalda threatened to throw them and their property out.
Specific incidents were cited in the filing.
One incident was a November threat.
Another was on January 2nd, where Ramalda allegedly ran up to their car.
She reportedly opened the car door without consent.
The filing claimed Ramalda grabbed and threatened a tenant.
Judge Judy's Scrutiny of the Tenants' Actions
Judge Judy questioned the tenants' actions.
She noted they stayed for two months without paying rent.
She referred to them as "squatters."
Judge Judy highlighted the timing of the order of protection.
It was filed after two months of unpaid rent.
She suggested the tenants were abusing the court system.
Judge Judy stated that if she were in family court, she would not have granted a temporary order of protection based on the filing.
She pointed out that Ramalda was on her own property.
The tenants were not paying rent at that time.
Tenants' Defense and Judge Judy's Rebuttal
The tenants argued they had no choice but to stay.
They claimed they needed a place.
They also mentioned Ramalda was a family friend.
However, they also stated they had problems with Ramalda since day one.
Judge Judy countered that if problems existed from day one, they should have moved earlier.
The tenants expressed confusion over Ramalda's mixed messages.
They described her as saying "everything's fine, we're family" versus wanting them out.
Judge Judy emphasized that Ramalda gave them a clear 30-day notice.
She stated that if tenants do not like where they are living, they should move.
She criticized the tenants for calling housing services and then stopping rent payments.
Judge Judy stated that this behavior is what "squatters" do.
She accused them of resorting to the courts and abusing protective orders.
The Arrest Claim
The tenants claimed Ramalda had them falsely arrested.
They stated they went to jail for no reason.
They questioned how they could send rent checks that were not deposited.
They believed it was Ramalda's fault.
The Verdict
Judge Judy ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Ramalda.
She awarded Ramalda the amount of $5,000.
The Outcome
The tenants were ordered to pay Ramalda $5,000.
Judge Judy implied the tenants misused the legal system.
She concluded they filed a protective order to keep the landlord off her own property.
This occurred while they were not paying rent.
She advised having everything in a correct lease.
She warned against verbal agreements to avoid future issues.